October 29, 2022 Collector Motor Series Auction Buyer's Catalog

1927 Bugatti Type 40 Lot 194 | Offered without Reserve | Bank Seized

History as described in the 2018 American Bugatti Register and Data Book: “This car was produced in September 1927 with engine 461 and taken to Gangloff for the production of a Grand Sport. It was ordered by and delivered to Ernest Friderich in Nice on April 19, 1928 for Frs. 31,321. It was purchased in August and registered 7887 M 13 by its first owner, Louis Marc Laugin of the George Saint Pierre in Nice. Six months later, it was sold to Baron Maximilien von Romberg, also of Nice and re-registered 4383 BA. A descendant of a noble Prussian military family, von Romberg was a notable polo player, aviator, and member of society. While he was killed in a 1938 airplane crash, the car had likely already found its way to the U.S. Gus Edwards, a well-known songwriter and vaudevillian performer who was later played by Bing Crosby in a 1939 film loosely based on his life called, ‘The Star Maker’ was the first identified American owner.

The car was erroneously depicted in 1979 as 40461 after the engine number. Donald Koleman in Salem, Massachusetts purchased the rolling chassis in 1986 and was able to add

Robert Chamberlain, Wendell Spencer, Waldon Peterson, and James Robinson as previous owners. The car was neglected and missing some minor items, but retained a few of its original cycle fenders. Donald restored it and fitted the steel Grand Sport body of 40681,

another T40 that he owned at the time, and eventually sold to Dan Margulies. 40575 was painted black with red interior and beige soft-top.A T37A supercharger was obtained from Kent Olsson at Retromobile in 1989 which posed

some problems, like the need for taller rear end gears, but he was convinced ‘If Ettore can do it for Lidia, so can I.’ Those who have driven it report that the car is quite a performer and a car that Molsheim should have produced. Since this car was supercharged, several others have emulated Koleman’s successful conversion.”

An estimated 745 examples of the Type 40 were produced. Chassis# 40575